Clothes wringer



July 21, .1931. H 1 CRWER 1,815,189

CLOTHES WRINGER INVENTOR.

July 21, 1931. 102mm l 1,815,189

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Nov. 25. 1928 `2 Smets-Sheet 2 [Nl/EN TOR.

Patented July 21, 1931 N'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY J. CRINER, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. G. BUSH, F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

CLOTHES WRING-ER Application led November 23, 1928.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes wringers.

The objects of my invention are: 1. To provide improved means for main j taining the variable compression between a pair of wringer rolls.

2. To provide improved means for simultaneously driving a pair of wringei' rolls variably spaced apart.

3. To provide resilient driving means f or wringers which will permit the use of adjacent soft-faced rolls and avoid undue deflection of the rolls during the wringing operation.

4. To provide means which will allow the passage of buttons and other objects through a pair of wringer rolls without breakage, or which will largely avoid breakage of buttons, etc., passing through the rolls.

5. To provide improved means for disengaging the rolls of a wringer and to automatically separate them when disengaged.

6. To provide a two-part frame for a wringer, with means for securing the two parts in operable position and means for manually unlatching them and automatically disengaging the rolls when unlatelied.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my wringer on the line 1--1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is horizontal section of my wringer on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 but showing the right portion of the spring, 4, broken away and the bearing block, 5, omitted;

Figure 3 is a top or plan view of my wringer;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail show- 4() ing the construction of the rolls, with a mediuin piece of clothing passing between them;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the rolls showing a heavy or bunched piece of clothing passing between them;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail ofthe latch;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section on the line 7 7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail showing` the latch bar in section on the line 8 8 of Figure 6 and showing the top view of the detents, 50,

Serial N0. 321,335.

with the adjoining portion of the frame broken away.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail showing the hub or bo-ss, 48, with the latch bar passing through it shown in section.

My wringer comprises a lower frame, 13, an upper frame, 12, seated upon the lower frame, which in turn is seated upon a flange,

23, formed upon the top of the supporting column oi' shaft housing, 24.

The lower frame, 13, is provided with a sleeve, 25, which extends onto the supporting column, 24, and secures the wringer firmly thereon. The lower frame, 13 may be secured upon the supporting column in a fixed position or adjustably mounted thereon as desired.

rlhe lower frame has formed integral therewith a flange, 16, and the upper frame has formed integral therewith, a flange, 14. These flanges form a joint at 15, at which the upper frame may be swung around upon the lower frame.

A drive shaft, 26, is mounted in the supporting column, 24, and` extends upwardly through the top of the upperframe, 12, into the boss, 6, formed integral with the upper frame.

A bevel gear, 20, is secured upon the shaft, 26, within the lower frame, 13, and meshes with a bevel gear,19, mounted upon one end of the ioll shaft, 35, which carries the lower roll, 40. The shaft, 35, is preferably mounted upon wood bearings, 36 and 46, secured within the lower frame, 13.

At the upper end of the shaft, 26, a bevel gear, 8, is secured by a spline or feather, which permits it to slide longitudinally upon the shaft, 26. The bevel gear, 8, meshes with a corresponding bevel gear, 9, mounted upon one end of the shaft, 30, which carries the upper roll, 28. The shaft, 30, is preferably mounted upon wooden bearing blocks, 5 and 27, secured in the upper frame.

A compression spring, 7, is secured around the upper end of the shaft, 26, between the bevel gear, 8, and the boss, 6, and exerts a pressure downwardly upon the bevel gear, 8.

A curved bar spring, 4, is secured within the upper frame having its ends resting upon CTI the bearing blocks, 5 and 27, and its upwardly curved middle portion bearing against the lower end of an adjusting screw, 2, to which is united a knob or wheel, 1. rIhe adjusting screw is threaded into the boss, 3, which is formed integral with the upper plate of the upper frame, 12.

At the left end of the upper frame, a small extension, 47 a, is fo-rmed integral with the upper frame with a hole or bore extending vertically through it in which is slidingly mounted a latch bar, 47, the lower end of which passes through a similar extension, 48, formed upon the end of the frame, 12. The extreme lower end of the bar, 47, is normally engaged by a pair of detente, 50, for-med integral with the lower frame, 13, but is provided with a notch, 49, so that when the bar, 47, is pushed downwardly, the notch, 49, will allow it to clear the detents, 50, and permit the upper frame to be swung around on the shaft, 26, as a pivot, thus freeing the upper and lower rolls from engagement and releasing any object which might be caught between them.

The knob, 51, is secured to the top of the bar, 47, and a compression spring, 51a, is mounted around the rod, 47, between the knob, 51, and the extension, 47a.

The lower roll, 40, preferably comprises a relatively hard core with a relatively softsurfaced portion, 34, secured thereto, the core being much thicker relatively than the surface portion.

The upper roll, Q8, is preferably formed of relatively soft material, with a small relatively hard core, 29, secured at the center thereof and mounted upon the shaft, 30.

Then two soft rolls are used in juxtaposition, if they exert sufficient pressure upon each other to press water out of the clothing passing between them `and if both of them a re driven at the same speed, there is a tendency for the soft material of which the rolls are r composed, to be distorted and deflected to a considerable extent and this distortion will soon greatly impair the rolls. But in order to prevent breakage or bending of buttons. ete., attached to the clothing passing through the wringer, it is important to have a relatively soft surface for both rolls and to secure the greatest efficiency in driving water out of the clothes, both rolls should be driven at the same speed.

I therefore secure the soft surfaces necessary to prevent breakage or bending of buttons, etc., and at the same time prevent distortion and deflection of the soft material comprising the rolls, by forming one of my rolls with a large hard core carrying a relatively soft, thin, outer portion mounted thereon and suitably secured to the core.

In the operation of my device, the upper frame of the wringer is latched in its normal position above the lower frame. The drive shaft, 26, is then operated through its connections with the motor or whatever driving means are provided, and carries with it the bevel gears, 8 and 20. These in turn drive the gears, 9 and 19, and thereby turn the rolls, 40 and 28.

The bevel gears, 19 and 20, are in fixed relation to each other and the compression, spring, 7, maintains he bevel gears, 8 and 9, in mesh.

The spring, 4, holds the faces of the rolls, 40 and 28, in contact and as the rolls are turned, the clothes to be dried are fed between the rolls. The soft upper roll and the soft face of the lower roll allow a considerable degree of compression thereof and will permit buttons or other hard substances, to sink into the rolls without injury, the resilient surfaces of the rolls resuming their normal positions after the buttons are past.

In case a thick bunch of clothes is fed to the rolls, the soft faces of the rolls will give to a considerable extent without injury and thereby avoid blocking the rolls.

Likewise, if a hand is accidentally caught between the rolls, the rolls will give suiiiciently to avoid severe injury. In case either a bunch of clothes or a hand is caught between the rolls, it may be disengaged by pressing downwardly on the knob, 51, which will unlatch the upper frame Jfrom the lower frame and allow the upper frame to revolve around the shaft, 26, as a pivot so as to release the clothes or hand from the rolls.

I.Vlien the obstruction has been thus taken from the rolls, the upper frame may be returned to its normal position upon the lower frame and latched in position thereon.

It is obvious that whenever the latch is released while the rolls are in motion, the movement of the rolls will tend to separate them laterally and this tendency will be aided by the pressure of the clothes or hand between the rolls.

I claim:

1. In a clothes wringer, the combination with upper and lower frames pivotally connected at one end by vertical pivoting means allowing relative horizontal rotation and having adjacent supporting collars formed upon the respective frames adapted to support the upper frame in various positions of adjustment, of latching means united thereto at the opposite end adapted to secure same in operative position when latched, rolls mounted in the upper and lower frames, 1S, means for varying the pressure of the rolls against each other, and automatically adjustable means for driving the rolls simultaneously in opposite directions.

Q. In a clothes wringer, the combination with upper and lower fraines pivotally connected at one end by vertical pivoting means allowing relative horizontal rotation and having adjacent supporting collars formed upon the respective frames adapted to support the upper frame in various posi-tions of adjustment, of latching means united thereto at the opposite end adapted to secure same in operative position when latched, rolls mounted in the upper and lower frames, means for varying the pressure of the rolls against each other, automatically adjustable means for driving the rolls simultaneously in opposite directions, and manually operable means for releasing the latch.

3. In a clothes wringer, the combination with a fixed lower frame member, of a movable upper frame member arranged parallel therewith, co-acting supporting members formed upon the upper and' lower frame members adapted to secure the upper i'rame member and the lower frame member in horizontal parallel planes in their various adjusted positions, a vertical pivotal connection between t-he upper and lower frame members, upper and lower wringer rolls mounted in the upper and lower frame members respectively, and means for driving the wringer roll-s simultaneously in opposite directions. n

4. In a clothes wringer, the combination with a fixed lower frame member, of a movable upper frame member arrfnged paiallel therewith, co-aeting supporting members formed upon the upper and lower frame members adapted to secure the upper frame member and the lower trame member in horizontal parallel planes` in their various adjusted positions, a vertical pivotal connection between the upper and lower frame members, upper and lower wringer rolls mounted in the upper and lower frame members respectively, and automatically adjustable means for driving the wringer rolls simultaneously in opposite directions.

5. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical driveshaft concentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having a vertical sleeve united thereto and revolvably mounted within the upper end of the supporting column, an upper frame mounted upon the low r i'rame and pivoted upon the driveshaft, upper and lower rolls revolvably mounted in the upper and lower frames respectively, and driving means mounted upon the shaft adapted to drive the rolls.

G. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical drive- .shait ccncentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal trame having one end seated upon the top of the supporting column, an upper horizontal frame revolvably mounted upon the lower horizontal frame, both upper and lower frames being pivotally united to the drive-shaft, rolls mounted in the respective frames, and means unit-ed to the shaft to drive the respective rolls simultaneously in opposite directions.

7. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical driveshaft concentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having one end seated upon the top of the supporting column, an upper horizontal frame revolvably mounted upon the lower horizontal frame, both upper and lower frames being pivotally united to the drive-shaft, rolls mounted in the respective frames, a lower bevel gear mounted upon the drive-shaft within the lower frame adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted upon the adjacent end of the lower rollshaft, a similar bevel gear slidingly mounted upon and near the upper end of the driveshaft adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted upon the adjacent end of the upper roll-shaft, a compression spring mounted between the upper face of the upper bevel gear and the upper pla-te of the upper i'rame.

8. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical driveshaft concentrically mounted therein, alower horizontal frame having one end seated upon the top of the supporting column, an upper horizontal frame revolvably mounted upon the lower horizontal frame, both upper and lower frames being pivotally united to the drive-shaft, rolls mounted in the respective Jframes, a lower bevel gear mounted upon the drive-shaft within the lower frame adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted upon the adjacent end of the lower roll-shaft, a similar bevel gear slidingly mounted upon and near the upper end of the drive-shaft adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted upon the adjacent end of the upper roll-shaft, a coiled spring mounted surrounding the ripper portion o:t` the driveshaft and secured between the upper' bevel gear and the upper plate of the upper frame and adapted to exert pressure downwardly upon the upper' bevel gear.

9. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having avertical driveshaft concentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having a vertical sleeve united thereto and revolvably mounted within the upper end of the supporting column, an upper frame mounted upon the lower frame and pivoted upon the drive-shaft, upper and lower rolls revolvably mounted in the upper and lower frames respectively, driving means mounted upon the shaft adapted to drive the rolls and latching means united to the upper and lower frames adapted to secure same in operative position when latched.

l0. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical drive-shaft concentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having a vertical sleeve united thereto and revolvably mounted within the upper end of the supporting column, an upper frame mounted upon the lower trame and pivoted upon the driveshatt, upper and lower rolls revolvably mounted in the upper and lower frames resiliectively, driving means mounted upon the shaft adapted to drive the rolls and latching means united to the upper and lower frames adapted to secure same in operative position when latched and permit the upper trame to revolve with the drive-shaft when unlatched.

ll. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical drive-shaft concentrioally mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having one end seated upon the top of the supporting column, au upper horizontal frame revolvably mount-- ed upon the lower horizontal trame, both upper and lower trames being pivotally united to the drive-shaft, rolls mounted in the respective frames, means united to the shaft to drive the respective rolls simultaneously in opposite directions, and latching means united to the upper and lower frames adapted to secure same in operative position when latehed and permit the upper frame to revolve with the drive-shaft when unlatched.

l2. A clothes wringer comprising a vertical supporting column having a vertical drive-shaft concentrically mounted therein, a lower horizontal frame having one end seated upon the top of the supporting column, an upper horizontal frame revolvably mounted upon the lower horizontal trame, both upper and lower Jframes being pivotally united to the driveshaft, rolls mounted in the respective frames, a lower A'bevel gear mounted upon the drive-shaft within the lower trame adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted upon the adjacent end of the lower roll-shaft, a similar bevel gear slidingly mounted upon and near the upper end ot the drive-shaft adapted to drive a corresponding bevel gear mounted unon the adjacent end of the upper rollsuatt, a compression spring mounted between the upper face of the upper bevel gear and the upper plate ot the upper frame, and latching means united to the upper and lower Yframes adapted to secure same in operative position when latched and permit the upper trame to revolve with the drive-shaft when unlatched.

13. In a wringer, a frame, a. lower roll revolvably mounted therein in a lixed position, an upper roll mounted therein adjacent the lower roll but slidable vertically in the frame, a vertical drive-shaft mounted within the rame near one end of the roll-shafts, bevel `:tears rigidly secured upon the roll-shafts adjacent the vertical shaft, a iXed bevel gear rigidly mounted upon the operating` shaft in mesh with the bevel gear upon the lower roll, a corresponding bevel gear slidingly mounted upon the upper end ot the drive-shaft and nature.

HARRY J. CRINER.

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